Driving mechanism for article forming apparatus



Sept. 13, 1949- L. A. FREEMAN DRIVING MECHANISM FOR ARTICLE FORMING APPARATUS Filed May 10, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR LAFREEMAN A T TOR/V5) V Sept. 13, 1949. 1.. A. FREEMAN 5 DRIVING MECHANISM FOR ARTICLE FORMING APPARATUS Filed May 10. 1948 s Shets-Sheet z 54 2s 24 49 "so v 24 25' lNl/ENTOR L.A.FREEMAN AT TORNEV Sept. 13, 1949.

L. A. FREEMAN DRIVING MECHANISM FOR ARTICLE ,FORMING APPARATUS Filed May 10, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 A r TORNEV Patented Sept. 13, 1949 a l 5": 2,431,653

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DRIVING MECHANISM FOR ARTICLE FORMING APPARATUS Leonard A. Freeman, Allentown, Pa., assignor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., acorporation of New York Application May 10, 1948, Serial No. 26,188

'7 Claims. (Cl. 23--27 3) This invention relates to article forming appa- Other objects and advantages will be apparent ratus and more particularly to the driving mechfrom the following detailed description when conanism for crystal supportingspiders in the mansidered in conjunction with the accompanying ufacture of syntheticcrystals. drawings, wherein Synthetic crystals commercially known at EDT Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the apparatus; crystals, with reference to the solution of ethyl- Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the appaene diamine tartrate from which they are formed, ratus; have been developed as 'a substitute in the com- Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed view munication arts for quartz crystals. During the of the driven member;

initial development of these synthetic crystals, Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken sub- 'Seeds were mounted on a spider positioned in a stantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

tank of the solution and rotated continuously, Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken each seed traveling in a circular path. In order along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3; and

to grow the crystals from the seeds to produce Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detailed view of a part perfect stones, each seed should travel in a porof the driving means for the spiders.

tion of the solution undisturbed and unoccupied Referring now to the drawings, attention is at any time by any other seed. Furthermore, to first directed to Fig. l which illustrates a plurality complete the desired result, the motionflof the of tanks l identical in structure and containseed and the growing crystal in the solution was ing solutions for the forming of synthetic crysan important factor in that substantiallycontals. These solutions may be of ethylene diatinuous movement must beapplied thereto in a mine tartrate essential for theformation of synmanner to avoid agitation of the solution and thetic crystals from seeds II mounted on spiders disturbance to the growing crystals. 12 positioned in the solutions in the tanks HI.

An object of the present invention is to pro- The spiders I2 include vertical hollow spindles vide a simple, efficient and highly practical appal4 extending through covers I for the tanks and ratus for moving articles, particularly crystal journalled in suitable bearings IS in brackets l1 supporting spiders for the growing of synthetic fixedly mounted on the covers l5. Some of the crystals. l spindles M are longer than others to complete With this and other objects in view, the inventheir driving connections with vertical shafts "tion comprises a plurality of article supporting 3o l9 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The vertical shafts elements mounted for v rocking movement, an 19 are journalled in bearings 20 carried by brackactuating member, a single drive means to recipets 2| supported by and extending laterally from rocate the member between given limits and vertical posts 22. The lower ends of the shafts means connecting the member to the elements I!) are supported by thrust bearings 24 positioned to impart like movements to the elements. on base plates 25.

More specifically, the apparatus includes a plu- Connecting units indicated generally at 21, rality of spiders supported for rotation in tanks shown in detail in Fig. 6, are removably connected containing solutions for forming synthetic crysto their respective spindles l4. It will be noted tals, the spiders supporting seeds for movement that the hollow spindles [4 have diametrically in their individual portions of the solutions; a opposed notches 28 in their upper ends to receive power unit driving a crank at a given speed to pins 29 of stub shafts 30 of their respective units reciprocate a slide member between given limits 2'! when the stub shafts are positioned within at varying speeds whereby there will be 510W the upper ends of their spindles M to form a full speed and gradual decelerations to slow stops.

starts from the limits, gradual accelerations to positive driving connection therewith. The shafts 30 in each of the units 2'! is journalled in a bear- 'An intermediate means connects the slide mem ing 3| in the outer end of an arm 32, the inner her to all of the spiders wherebysubstantially the end of the arm having a bearing portion 34 to same motion will be imparted thereto to move rotatably support a sprocket 35. The sprocket 35 -'the crystal seeds in their individual portions of of each unit 21 has diametrically opposed notches their solutions. 36 in an integral hub thereof to removably receive a pin 31 carried by its respective shaft IS. A chain 38 operatively connects the sprocket 35 with a sprocket 39 mounted on the stub shaft 30 of each unit 21. This completes the formation of the units 21, one of these units being provided for each of the spindles l4, a pair of the units lbeing connected to each of the foremost shafts l9 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

the unit Q3 has a crank arm 45 of a given length -mounted thereon, the length of the-crank armdependin upon the length of the rocking motion to be imparted to the spiders. The outer end of a link 48, the link in turn being pivotally connected at 49 to an element 50.

The element 50 :the crank arm 45 is pivotall'y'connected at 4'! to has a cross-sectional contour asillustrated in Fig.

3, its corners being recessed to receive lower guides and upper guides 52 jointly controlling movement of the element 50 in a given path. The lower I guides 5-! are mounted upon' a channel member53 which constitutes a part of a supporting frame 54 mounted in; a given position with respect to the tanks H). A bracket 55 having leg portions 56 secured to the channel member 53 has the upper guides 52 secured thereto as illustrated in Fig. 3. Grooves 58 and 59 are formed in one side of theelement 50 at opposite ends thereof to receive the ends of a chainfifl or other suitable flexible means to operatively connect the element 50 with the shafts i9. Mounting clamps GI and 62, identical instructure and shown in cross-section in Fig. 5 are formed with projections 63 to extend between the lateral portions-in the ends of the chain to positively fix the ends of the chain within their grooves 58 and 59 ofthe slideor element 50. The clamps 6i and 62 are secured in placeby the aid of screws E4 and 65. Sprockets .68 are mounted in a :given plane on each of the vertical shafts Hand sprockets are rotatably mounted on the frame 54 adjacent opposite ends thereof to control the travel of the chain 60 as illustratedin Fig. 1.

..-ConSiderlng now the operation of the driving mechanism, let it beassumed that the spiders i2 spective spider and then moved downwardly until the pins 29 rest in their notches. 28 (Fig. 6) and the'pins 31' of the shafts [9 are positioned in the notches 3B of their sprockets 35.

In actual practice, the spiders i2 support articles, namely crystal seeds which are to be moved in their individual portions of a solution of ethylene diamine tartrate in their tanks II). It is important that the articles or seeds move in their respective portions of the solution, substantially continuously but .in a manner'whereby there will be little or no agitation of the solution. This motion is brought about through operation of the motor 42, the unit 43 and continuous rotation of the crank arm 46 which will impart a reciprocating motion to the element 58 between given limits.

The motion imparted to the element 50 is such that there will be slow starts of the element from its limits, gradual accelerations to fullspeedand gradual deceleirations to. slowstops at the limits.

Thi straight line motion of the element 50 is translated into similar rotary motions to all-f the spiders I2 through the chain 60, the sprockets 68, the vertical shafts IS, the units 21 and the spindles l4 of the spiders l2- In this manner, the crystal may grow from. the seeds on the spiders into the perfect stones desired.

After a given length of timenecessaryfor the crystals to grow to the desired size, the motor 42 7 may be deenergized, stopping movement of the element 50 as well as the spiders I2 after which the units 21 maybe readily disconnected from their spiders by" moving the units vertically to free the pins 29 and 3'! from the notches 28 and 36. The units 21 may be rotated then about their respective Shafts l9 away from the tanks l0 whereby the spiders may be removed from the tanks and the solutions therein. Thi having been accomplished, .other spiders equipped with articles or seeds may be lowered into the tanks and readily conected to the driving mechanism by moving the units 21 about their shafts l9 and allowing them to be connected to their respective spiders] 2. V

It is to be understood that the above described arrangements are simply illustrative of the application'of the principles of the invention. Nu-

merous other arrangementsmay' bereadily de- 5 vised by those skilled in'theiart which will embody the principles of the invention. and within:

the spirit and scope thereof- What is claimed is:

1. The combination .with an article support mounted for movement, of'a'driving' means ther'efor comprising a slide mounted for reciprocable movement, means to reciprocate the slide between given limits whereby there will be slow starts from the limits, gradual accelerations to full speed and gradual decelerations to slow stops at the limits, and means including a sprocket and chain connection, or'the like, between the article support and the slide to impart a similar motionto the article support.

2. The combination with spaced article their respective axes,.the driving mechanism comprising an element mounted for reciprocationin a 7 given path remote from the units, means to impart a given reciprocable motion to the element,

and means'operatively connecting the element to all the units to translate the straight line motion of the element into similar rocking motions to the units about their axes.

4. A driving mechanism for units mounted at spaced positions for rocking movement about their respective axes, the driving mechanism comprising shafts rotatably mounted adjacent the units and operatively connected thereto, an element mounted forreciprocation in a given path remote from the units, means to impart a given; re-

ciprocable motion to theelement, and a flexible member connecting the element to the shafts to translate the straight line motion of the element to the units.

7 supports mounted for movement, of a single driving .1. spaced positions for rocking movement about motions through. the shafts 5. A driving mechanism for crystal supporting spiders mounted for rocking movement in solutions in tanks disposed at spaced positions relative to each other, the driving mechanism comprising an element mounted for movement in a path between given limits, means to move the element between its limits, and means to transfer the motions of the element to all the spiders to cause rocking motions of the spiders in their solutions.

6. A driving mechanism for crystal supporting spiders mounted for rocking movement in solutions in tanks disposed at spaced positions relative to each other, the driving mechanism comprising an element mounted for movement in a path between given limits, means to move the element between its limits whereby there will be slow starts from the limits, gradual accelerations to full speed and gradual decelerations to slow stops at the limits, and means to transfer the motions of the element to all the spiders to cause rocking motions of the spiders in their solutions.

7. A driving mechanism for crystal supporting spiders mounted for rocking movement in solutions in tanks disposed at spaced positions relative to each other, the driving mechanism comprising an element mounted for movement in a path between given limits, vertical shafts rotatably mounted adjacent the tanks, units carried by the shafts to operatively connect the shafts to the spiders, the units being disengageable from their spiders and thei shafts for movement about their shafts out of alignment with the tanks, means to move the element between its limits, and a member movable by the element to transfer the motions of the element through the shafts and units to the spiders to cause rocking motions of the spiders in their solutions.

LEONARD A. FREEMAN.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Christensen et a1. Jan. 25, 1949 Number 

